Cheese pulls are the stretching of melted cheese. They are considered to appear appetizing and have been featured in food advertisements and social media. [1] [2] [3]
Cheese pulls are the stretching of melted cheese. They are considered to appear appetizing and have been featured in food advertisements and social media. [1] [2] [3]
A number of studies have been conducted to determine how stretchy and thick various cheese varieties are at various temperatures. [4] [5] [6] Cheddar and mozzarella have been described as two of the best cheeses for cheese pulls. [6] Various brands and restaurants have been compared by the perceived quality of their cheese pulls. [7] [8] The food additive sodium citrate has been suggested as a method for making melted cheese stretchier. [9]
Various organizations have tracked world records for the longest measured cheese pull. One such record was recorded by RecordSetter in 2016, when Carlo Alberto Orecchia achieved a 41.5 inches (105 cm) cheese pull with a pizza slice. [6] In 2023, the Doritos corporation used a helicopter to achieve a 49 feet (15 m)-cheese pull; the stunt involved a 265 pounds (120 kg) blend of cheddar and mozzarella and a 4 feet (1.2 m)-wide nacho. [10]
A 2023 article claimed that the hashtag "#cheesepull" had hundreds of thousands of uses across various social media platforms. [6] A number of journalists have criticized the concept as unappetizing or misleading about the taste or quality of the dish. [1] [2]
Social media "cheese pulls" have been credited in reviving the popularity of restaurant chains such as Raising Cane's, Olive Garden, The Cheesecake Factory, and Chili's. [11] In 2024, Chili's "Triple Dipper" appetizer, specifically the large fried mozzarella stick that's included, made up 10% of restaurant sales. The sales increased to 15% in 2025, according to NPR, and was credited fully to popularity of videos shared on social media by Chili's Chief Marketing Officer. [11] The chain released merchandise and a Halloween costume inspired by the trend. [12]
In 2025, Jimmy Johns used the term while marketing their pizza sandwiches with the phrase, "handheld, toasted and with cheese pulls you can take on the go." [13]